Methods and systems of using a hybrid coolant loop for a tranport climate control system

Abstract

A transport climate control system and method for providing a first temperature for cooling a first conditioned space and a second temperature for cooling a second conditioned space. The transport climate control system including a first climate control system including a first compressor, a first condenser, a first expansion device, and a primary heat exchanger that is configured to thermally communicate with a coolant loop, a secondary climate control system including a second compressor, a cascaded heat exchanger, a second expansion device, and an evaporator; and the coolant loop having a coolant. The coolant loop is configured to thermally communicate with the primary heat exchanger, and the coolant loop is further configured to thermally communicate with one or more of the cascaded heat exchanger and the second conditioned space.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A transport climate control system configured to provide a first temperature for cooling a first conditioned space and a second temperature for cooling a second conditioned space, the transport climate control system comprising:
 a first climate control system including a first compressor, a first condenser, a first expansion device, and a primary heat exchanger that is configured to thermally communicate with a coolant loop,   a secondary climate control system including a second compressor, a cascaded heat exchanger, a second expansion device, and an evaporator; and   the coolant loop having a coolant,   wherein the coolant loop is configured to thermally communicate with the primary heat exchanger, and wherein the coolant loop is further configured to thermally communicate with one or more of the cascaded heat exchanger and the second conditioned space.   
     
     
         2 . The transport climate control system of  claim 1 , wherein the secondary climate control system is configured to thermally communicate with the first conditioned space for cooling to the first temperature when the coolant loop thermally communicates with the cascaded heat exchanger. 
     
     
         3 . The transport climate control system of  claim 1 , wherein the coolant loop comprises a heat exchanger provided in the second conditioned space for cooling to the second temperature when the coolant loop thermally communicates with the second conditioned space. 
     
     
         4 . The transport climate control system of  claim 1 , wherein the coolant loop comprises a control valve for controlling a flow of the coolant to the one or more of the cascaded heat exchanger and the second conditioned space. 
     
     
         5 . The transport climate control system of  claim 4 , wherein the control valve is configured to divide the flow of the coolant to the cascaded heat exchanger and the second conditioned space. 
     
     
         6 . The transport climate control system of  claim 1 , wherein the coolant loop includes a cold side that is configured to cool one or more components of a transport unit by heat exchange with the coolant and a hot side that is configured to heat one or more components of the transport unit by heat exchange with the coolant. 
     
     
         7 . The transport climate control system of  claim 6 , wherein the one or more components of the transport unit include batteries for heating and/or cooling. 
     
     
         8 . The transport climate control system of  claim 6 , wherein the coolant loop comprises one or more control valves for controlling a flow of the coolant to the one or more components of the transport unit. 
     
     
         9 . The transport climate control system of  claim 1 , wherein the coolant loop comprises a receiver for receiving the coolant and a pump for circulating the coolant in the coolant loop. 
     
     
         10 . The transport climate control system of  claim 1 , wherein the second temperature is at or between at or about 1 and 5 degrees Celsius and the first temperature is at or between 0 and −70 degrees Celsius. 
     
     
         11 . The transport climate control system of  claim 1 , wherein the first climate control system includes a second coolant loop having a second coolant and configured to thermally communicate with the first condenser and a second heat exchanger for cooling the second coolant. 
     
     
         12 . The transport climate control system of  claim 11 , wherein the second heat exchanger is a coolant-to-air heat exchanger in communication with an external environment. 
     
     
         13 . The transport climate control system of  claim 1 , wherein the first condenser is air cooled. 
     
     
         14 . The transport climate control system of  claim 11 , wherein the second coolant is at least one of: ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, water, and a brine solution. 
     
     
         15 . The transport climate control system of  claim 1 , wherein the coolant is at least one of: ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, water, and a brine solution. 
     
     
         16 . The transport climate control system of  claim 1 , wherein a refrigerant in the first climate control system is a hydrocarbon based refrigerant, chlorinated and/or fluorinated based refrigerants, or a blend thereof. 
     
     
         17 . The transport climate control system of  claim 1 , wherein a refrigerant in the second climate control system is carbon dioxide. 
     
     
         18 . A method of providing a first conditioned space at a first temperature and providing a second conditioned space at a second temperature, the method comprising:
 cooling the first conditioned space to the first temperature using a second climate control system that includes a second compressor, a cascaded heat exchanger, a second expansion device, and an evaporator;   circulating a coolant through a hybrid coolant loop that is in thermal communication with at least a primary heat exchanger, the cascaded heat exchanger, and the second conditioned space;   cooling the coolant circulating through the hybrid coolant loop using a first climate control system including a first compressor, a first condenser, a first expansion device, and the primary heat exchanger that is configured to thermally communicate with the hybrid coolant loop; and   controlling a flow of the coolant to one or more of the cascaded heat exchanger or the second conditioned space, wherein the second conditioned space is cooled to the second temperature via thermal communication of the coolant and the second conditioned space.